The opening scene of the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” features legendary actress Audrey Hepburn wearing a black dress and a pearl necklace, and standing outside the Tiffany & Co.’s flagship jewelry store on New York’s Fifth Avenue. Choosing Tiffany’s was not a coincidence: In the early 20th century, Tiffany’s sought to set up shop at a prestigious New York location. At the time, the now-iconic building was appraised at $1 million, and Tiffany’s acquired it by paying with a single pearl.
